15 Places To Eat Late in Austin During SXSW 2014

You’re at SXSW and just spent the entire day walking, wandering, and rocking out all over town. Now it’s 2am, and you need to refuel for the next day so that you can do it all over again.

We’ve got you covered. These 15 restaurants and food trucks are open late AND they’re absolutely delicious… so you’re pretty much in a win-win situation. Here are our top picks for the best joints to get late night food (and drinks) in Austin:

In Austin, many late nights end at Kerbey Lane. Order their famous Kerbey Queso (topped with guacamole AND pico de gallo) and be sure to try their Eggs Francisco or Pancake of the Day. If you’re lucky, they’ll be featuring their “Cinnamon Roll” pancake which is caramelized with brown sugar and topped with ooey, gooey icing.

Magnolia Cafe is the perfect spot to end your night because it’s right smack dab in the middle of central Austin. Be sure to try their Mag Mud (queso with black beans, avocado and pico de gallo) or an Austin staple, the Migas. And if you don’t think you’ve spent enough money on pointless things yet, you can always purchase one of the pieces of strange stick figure art they have hanging on the walls for a mere $300.

Las Cazuelas is one of those little gems that will make you look like a hero in front of your friends because not many people know about it (especially tourists). Sit down indoors or outdoors and eat some dfe breakfast tacos. Oh, and don’t forget to top off your tacos with salsa from their fresh salsa bar.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth and enough money and energy to catch a bus or cab to La Mexicana Bakery, GO THERE… seriously! Try their tres leches or just play eeny, meeny, miny, moe and pick up a little of everything. You really can’t go wrong with anything you order here.

As far as late night eats go, Star Seeds can’t be beat. With an impressive 24-hour menu that boasts burgers, sandwiches, breakfast foods, and a wide variety of other entrees, Star Seeds is a necessity when it comes to Austin Diners. They are a locally-owned institution, with their very own coffee blend from Texas Coffee Traders. Plus, they have pie.

Located right in the middle of UT’s campus on what Austinites call “The Drag”, Austin’s Pizza is our local version of Domino’s or Hungry Howies. Go inside and hang out at their bar and play a couple of games, or just get it delivered to your door.

There’s a reason why we ranked Chi’Lantro Korean BBQ as one of the top food trucks in Austin. Their Kimchi fries and hearty burritos will have your inner fat kid singing “Hallelujah” for days. Chase them down during SXSW by following them on Twitter.

Please, do yourself a favor and don’t leave Austin without trying our claim to fame in the doughnut world. Anthony Bourdain swears by ‘em, and you will, too, after one bite. Try the Mother Clucker (topped with fried chicken), the Flying Pig (topped with bacon), or appreciate the simplicity of a regular ole’ Naughty & Nice cinnamon sugar doughnut.

Could it be true? Authentic Austin BBQ open late AND in a central location? Yes, your wildest finger lickin’ dreams have come true. Until 4am, you can enjoy fall-off-the-bone brisket, pulled pork, and other famous BBQ fixings. No doubt, you’ll fall asleep just as happy as you are full.

Once upon a time, three dudes went to Switzerland and found one of Europe’s most amazing treasures… Doner Kebabs. They loved them so much, they decided to bring them to Austin. Now they easily claim the spot as the best kebab you’ll ever have. Plus, their produce is organic so you don’t have to feel that bad about your late night feasting.

What better way to avoid a hangover than to fill up on authentic tacos, then wash them down with a refreshing Agua Fresca? If you happen to make it there before 2am, you can end your night with a frozen margarita.

If it’s caffeine and delicious food you need to keep you going, you’ll find it at Strange Brew. They’ve got organic, fair trade coffee, sweet treats from well-known bakeries around town, and even paninis and sandwiches if that’s what you prefer. Plus, you can’t beat the Austin vibe (ie. nice people, live music and friendly staff).

Bennu Coffee isn’t just awesome because of their ambiance or killer coffee. What sets them apart from other coffee shops is that they’re truly community-oriented. All of their coffee beans are organic and fairly traded, plus they participate in recycling and composting programs, and support a ton of local Austin charities. Let’s not also forget that they offer everything from pizza to salads and even tacos from just about every restaurant in town.

Board games, great coffee, infused liquors, a fireplace, killer ambiance AND a BBQ food truck in back? Late night dining doesn’t get much better than this. If you’re looking for somewhere to kick back after a long night of drinking, this is your place.

CHECK OUT THE ULTIMATE SXSW GUIDE

Loved our list of fantastic places to grab late night food in Austin during SXSW? Then you’ll love our SXSW guide – it’s packed with bands to see, parties to go to, food to eat, and ways to get around. Click here to check it out.